First wood-paneled spacecraft launched into space

The world’s first wood-paneled spacecraft was sent into space, to investigate the viability of using wood as a renewable building material for future space exploration of places like the Moon and Mars.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the wood-paneled satellite was created by researchers in Japan.

It is named LignoSat, after the Latin word for wood.

On a SpaceX mission, the minuscule satellite, which weighs only 900g, is en route to the International Space Station.

According to the source, it will be released into orbit above the Earth.

Its panels were constructed using a traditional method.

This was reportedly achieved without the use of glue or screws from a particular kind of magnolia tree.

Researchers at Kyoto University who developed it hope that wood could eventually be used in place of some metals in space travel as per report.

Professor Koji Murata, a professor of forest science at Kyoto University, revealed the wood’s resilience in space.

Professor Murata ascribed this durability characteristic to the space’s lack of oxygen and water.

He stated: “Wood is more durable in space than on Earth because there’s no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it.

“Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood.

“A wooden satellite should be feasible, too”, he added.

The researchers reportedly think that wood may eventually be used to build space settlements if trees could be planted on the Moon or Mars.

LignoSat uses electronic components and conventional aluminum constructions in addition to wood panels.

The first wood-paneled spacecraft is equipped with sensors to track how its wood responds to the harsh conditions of space during the course of its six-month orbit around the planet.

A space research scientist at the Open University in the United Kingdom named Dr. Simeon Barber asserted on the sustainability of wood-paneled spacecraft.

He said: “We have to be clear that this is not a satellite completely made of wood.

“But the basic premise behind the idea is really interesting.

“From a sustainability point of view, wood is a material that can be grown and is therefore renewable”, he stated.

“The idea that you might be able to grow wood on another planet to help you explore space or make shelters.

“Explorers have always used wood to make shelters when they’ve gone to a new land”.

According to Dr. Barber, wood has been utilized aboard spacecraft before.

“We use wood – cork – on the re-entry, outer shell of vessels of spacecraft to help them survive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere”.

“Russian and Soviet lunar landers used cork to help the rover have grip as it was descending to the surface.

“There’s nothing wrong with using wood in space.

“It’s using the right material for the right task”, he added.

He disclosed that wood possess properties that are uneasy to control.

“So from an engineering point of view it’s quite a difficult material to work with…

“I think wood’s always going to have a problem to make critical structures like parts of spacecraft where you need to predict how strong it’s going to be”, he said.

According to Kyoto University experts, spaceships made of wood may be far less polluting to the environment.

They asserted that wood-made spaceships may pollute less than metal-made spaceships when they burn up upon re-entry at the end of their lives.

As more satellites and spacecraft are launched, experts have warned that the risk of space trash falling to Earth is growing.

Dr. Barber admitted that the space sector was coming under increasing pressure due to the amount of pollution it releases into the environment.

Though he was skeptical that employing wooden spacecraft could be the solution, according to report.

“In principle having materials such as wood which can burn up more easily would reduce certainly those metallic contaminants…

“But you may end up taking more material with you in the first place just to burn it up on the way down”.

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